African Drums Festival: Alaafin Says African Drum Serves As Instrument of Inspiration [SEE PHOTOS]

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi has noted that the African drum serves as a veritable instrument of inspiration, mentoring and motivation, particularly in the Yoruba culture.

Alaafin stated this at the opening ceremony of the 3rd edition of African Drum Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Thursday.

The Yoruba monarch said African drums are used for making proverbs, to warn people of imminent dangers, to entertain, to mourn or announce the death of important personality and use for wars.

Alaafin’s statement preceded federal government’s plan to incorporate the African Drum Festival into the national calendar of festivals, adding that all national media platforms would be made available to create awareness for it.

President Muhammed Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed that the festival had continued to grow better with each edition, stating further that, the drum festival keyed into the objective of turning the creative industry into a thriving industry that provides jobs and promotes the economy.

“The drum festival keys into our objective of turning the creative industry into a thriving industry, one that provides jobs and promotes the economy. I will also appeal to the corporate world to partner with Ogun State and support this festival by providing the much-needed resources to ensure its sustenance,” he said.

“This festival is important to Africa because it provides us with an avenue to showcase our rich cultural heritage as well as an opportunity to preserve the culture for the future heritage,” he added.